Blaby

Blaby's population grew in the 10 years leading up to 2011. Data from the census show there were changes in average age, religion and housing tenure.

The population reached nearly 94,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Blaby increased by 4.1%, from just under 90,300 to 93,900.

The addition of just under 3,700 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Blaby was home to, on average, 5.1 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across the East Midlands

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the East Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Blaby

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Blaby increased by four years, from 38 to 42 years.

This affluent area had a higher average age than the East Midlands and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 2,600 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 3,000.

About 12% of people in Blaby are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Blaby by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in work life

This area saw the East Midlands' largest fall in the proportion of employed people.

Across the region, West Northamptonshire saw the next largest decrease in the proportion of employed people (from 59% in 2001 to 57% in 2011).

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (58%) people aged 16 to 74 in Blaby said they were employed, compared with 60% in 2001. The percentage that were unemployed increased from 2.1% to 2.9%.

The rate of employment was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that that said they were employed across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple increased in Blaby, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the East Midlands, except Leicester.

Every local authority area across the East Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple, as the regional average grew from 8.7% to 10%.

In 2011, just over 1 in 10 (10%) households in Blaby had an unmarried couple, compared with 9.6% in 2001. The percentage with just a single person increased from 23% to 26%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households that that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Blaby

The number of people in Blaby that described themselves as Christian increased from about 66,000 in 2001 to just under 55,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 74% to 58% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the East Midlands (from 72% to 59%) and the average across England (from 72% to 59%).

The number of people in Blaby that described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 14,000 in 2001 to about 27,000 in 2011 (from 16% to 29%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just under 5,700 to about 6,300 (from 6.3% to 6.7%).

About 2,600 people (1.9%) said they were Hindu, up from just under 1,700 in 2001 (2.7%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population who identified as Christian in Blaby decreased by 16 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Blaby by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Blaby that rented privately increased from 4.0% to 10% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The proportion that lived in social housing remained close to 8.2%, while the percentage of Blaby households that owner their home decreased from 87% to 81%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 8.5% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Blaby increased by 6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Blaby, the East Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links